Govt invites Qatari investors to SEZs, Retaj Group eyes hospitality ventures in Pakistan

Pakistan invited Qatari investors to its Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and discussed boosting trade, food security and investment during Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan’s meetings in Doha on the sidelines of the World Investment Forum 2026.

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan held a series of high-level meetings with senior officials, international economic leadership and prominent business representatives, focusing on strengthening Pakistan’s international trade relations, attracting foreign investment, enhancing regional connectivity and expanding economic cooperation across key sectors, read a statement on Tuesday.

During the engagements held on October 25 and 26, the federal minister met with the Secretary-General of the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Qatar’s Minister of Municipality, the Chairman of Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industries and representatives of Retaj Group.

In an important engagement, Jam Kamal Khan met with the Chairman of Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industries to explore new avenues for strengthening bilateral trade, investment and private-sector cooperation.

The federal minister encouraged the Qatari business community to expand business-to-business interactions with Pakistani counterparts and develop stronger people-to-people connections to translate the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and Qatar into tangible economic and commercial opportunities.

Highlighting Pakistan’s investment potential, Jam Kamal invited Qatari investors to explore opportunities in the country’s Special Economic Zones, particularly in the Karachi industrial area, where export-oriented manufacturing and industrial partnerships could provide access to domestic and international markets.

He also highlighted Pakistan’s strategic geographical position and the potential for investors to access wider regional markets, including Africa, through improved trade connectivity and supply-chain networks.

During the discussions, the Chairman of Qatar Chamber highlighted changing global supply-chain dynamics and expressed interest in proposed regional transit routes and connectivity initiatives.

Both sides recognised that improved logistics infrastructure, diversified supply chains and stronger regional transport connections could play a significant role in facilitating trade, reducing commercial barriers and opening new markets for businesses in Pakistan and Qatar.

The meeting underscored the importance of sustained engagement between chambers of commerce, investors and business communities to identify commercially viable projects and strengthen bilateral economic relations.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promoting investment, expanding private-sector partnerships and advancing shared economic prosperity.

As part of his engagements with Qatar’s private sector, Federal Minister Jam Kamal Khan also met with representatives of Retaj Group to discuss potential cooperation in the hospitality and tourism industries.

During the meeting, Retaj Group expressed interest in exploring joint ventures with Pakistani business partners and examining opportunities to expand its hospitality brands into Pakistan and other brotherly Islamic countries.

The discussions focused on potential investment partnerships, hospitality-sector development and opportunities for greater collaboration between businesses of the two countries.

Both sides recognised the potential of hospitality and tourism cooperation to encourage private investment, create new commercial opportunities and strengthen economic relations between Pakistan and Qatar.

In a meeting with the Secretary-General of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation on October 25, Federal Minister Jam Kamal Khan discussed measures to strengthen economic integration and accelerate trade among member countries.

The D-8 Secretary-General appreciated Pakistan’s continued support for the organisation and highlighted the importance of implementing the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement following its ratification by Egypt.

Both sides emphasised the need to translate existing economic cooperation frameworks into practical commercial opportunities through greater private-sector participation, improved market access and stronger trade linkages among member states.

Jam Kamal reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening cooperation within the D-8 framework and supporting initiatives aimed at facilitating trade, encouraging investment and promoting sustainable economic growth among member economies.

In a separate bilateral meeting on October 26, the federal minister met with Qatar’s minister of municipality to discuss expanding cooperation in agriculture, food security and bilateral trade.

Both sides exchanged views on opportunities to strengthen commercial relations and promote greater institutional and business-level engagement in agricultural development and food supply chains.

The discussions highlighted the potential for closer collaboration between relevant government institutions and private-sector stakeholders to identify practical areas of cooperation and facilitate mutually beneficial commercial partnerships.

The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of Pakistan and Qatar to further strengthen their longstanding bilateral relations through enhanced economic engagement and cooperation in sectors of common interest.